Interior Sec fails to extract Regencia

By Frank E. Dosdos, Jr.,
Sita Asequia,
Correspondents
and Nora Soriño,
Iligan Bureau Chief

The Secretary of Interior and Local Government (SILG) failed to extract inmate Mayor Celso G. Regencia from Iligan City Jail as ordered by the Regional Trial Court, Branch 77 of Quezon City on Aug. 11.

Regencia is being detained for multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges in connection with the ambush of the convoy of then Congressman Vicente F. Belmonte, Jr. on Dec. 11, 2014 at the access road of Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

In a Manifestation and Motion for Additional Period dated Sept. 5, 2016 and signed by his Counsel Romeo P. Benitez, Sec. Ismael D. Sueño stated that the Department of Interior and Local Government was furnished a copy of the Order of the said Court, dated Aug. 11, asking the SILG to comment within five days of the urgent manifestation of the Officer in Charge of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology specifically for:

1.) The SILG be directed to require all the necessary governmental agencies under his jurisdiction to implement the extraction of accused Mayor Celso Regencia from the Iligan City Jail at Barangay Tipanoy and to escort him to Quezon City;

2.) The Secretary of the DILG to request the Department of Defense to make available the necessary military personnel and equipment needed to assist in the implementation of the said extraction and transfer.

“Much as the SILG would like to render immediate compliance order, the present condition at the Iligan City Jail where political supporters of Mayor Regencia are holding a human barricade around the jail facility impels the need for additional time for him to study the situation thoroughly in order to effect the extraction of the accused without exposing the people thereat to consequent danger or perils.  On top of this apprehension, movant as the SILG has other equally important concerns in the department requiring immediate action and, or attention,”  Sueño said.

Sueño further asked for the court to grant him 15 days, or up to Sept. 20, to make his comment on the order.

Regencia is scheduled to appear before the Court on Sept. 21.

The case has lingered for almost a year since the surrender of the accused to file his Certificate of Candidacy in the 2016 Elections. It was originally filed at RTC Branch 44 of Initao, Misamis Oriental but was eventually transferred by order of the Supreme Court to Quezon City due to failure of the accused to appear in several hearings scheduled by the Court and for the security concerns of the Panel of Prosecutors of the Department of Justice who have to travel from Manila to Initao, Misamis Oriental each time the case is set for hearing.